Answer | Filed: September 30, 2026
| Entered: September 30, 2026
Howard v. Riehlman, Shafer & Shaw, LLC et al
Civil Rights: Other | New York Northern
Answer to Crossclaim Answer to Amended Complaint
ANSWER to 35 Answer to Amended Complaint,, Crossclaim, 8 Amended Complaint, , ANSWER to 35 Answer to Amended Complaint,, Crossclaim, 8 Amended Complaint, by Thomas Dwyer, Richard Peroni, Professional Investigations and Process Services, Inc..(Rausch, Robert)
Order | Filed: September 28, 2026
| Entered: September 28, 2026
Howard v. Riehlman, Shafer & Shaw, LLC et al
Civil Rights: Other | New York Northern
Order on Letter Request
TEXT ORDER: The Court is in receipt of defendant Lloyd Schor's letter motion, Dkt. No. 39 , to vacate the Clerk's Entry of Default, Dkt. No. 20 ; defendants Joel Ian Ross, Amanda Chapman Shaw, and Riehlman, Shafer & Shaw, LLC's letter motion, Dkt. No. 44 , to vacate the Clerk's Entry of Default, Dkt. No. 18 ; and the stipulation between plaintiff Travon Howard and defendants Thomas Dwyer, Richard Peroni, and Professional Investigations and Process Services, Inc., Dkt. No. 53 , to vacate the Clerk's Entry of Default, Dkt. No. 19 . The Court is also in receipt of Plaintiff's letter motion, Dkt. No. 40 , to strike the Answer filed by defendants Riehlman, Shafer & Shaw, LLC, Joel Ian Ross, and Amanda Chapman Shaw, Dkt. No. 35 ; Plaintiff's letter motion, Dkt. No. 41 , to deny defendant Lloyd Schor's letter motion, Dkt. No. 39 ; and Plaintiff's letter motion, Dkt. No. 46 , to deny defendants Joel Ian Ross, Amanda Chapman Shaw, and Riehlman, Shafer & Shaw, LLC's letter motion, Dkt. No. 44 . As to Plaintiff's letter motions, the Court notes with concern defendants Lloyd Schor, Riehlman, Shafer & Shaw, LLC, Joel Ian Ross, and Amanda Chapman Shaw's failures to timely answer the Amended Complaint or to request an extension of time to do so. Nevertheless, the Court also notes the "[s]trong public policy favor[ing] resolving disputes on the merits" recognized in this Circuit, Pecarsky v. Galaxiworld.com Ltd., 249 F.3d 167, 172 (2d Cir. 2001) (internal quotation marks omitted), and the corresponding practice of using the "extreme sanction of a default judgment [as] a weapon of last, rather than first, resort," Meehan v. Snow, 652 F.2d 274, 276 (2d Cir. 1981). Accordingly, the Court hereby GRANTS the letter motions and stipulation to vacate the Clerk's entries of default, Dkt. Nos. 39 , 44 , and 53 ; ORDERS that the Clerk's Entries of Default, Dkt. Nos. 18 , 19 , and 20 , are VACATED; and DENIES Plaintiff's letter motions, Dkt. Nos. 40 , 41 , and 3779 additional result(s)